07/06/2026
Disc injuries can be scary!
They can be scary because you need your back to function well in order to live your active lifestyle.
They’re also scary for a deeper biological reason…
They’re near your spinal cord, and your nervous system’s job is to keep your spinal cord SAFE.
That’s why the alarm bells are so loud when you injure a disc.
What makes this worse is that the healthcare system isn’t equipped to provide long-term strategies to resolve a disc injury.
What they ARE equipped to do is use incredible technology to collect information, which, in this case, an MRI.
The trouble is that it’s often poorly communicated to the patient (you!) what the imaging actually means and which options are available.
Sometimes surgery is the best option, and oftentimes it’s not. It’s challenging to make that decision for yourself when you don’t have all the information and you’re dealing with pain.
Surgery is generally the way to go when there is bowel and bladder involvement or loss of motor control (think not being able to lift your toes).
When those issues aren’t present, a conservative approach is very much a viable option!
When it’s needed, surgery is a godsend. When it’s performed as a knee-jerk reaction, it’s the opposite.
You always have the right to ask your physician questions.
-Ask about other options.
-Ask about the prognosis if you choose conservative care.
-Ask how they came to their conclusion.
-Ask them to tell you why you SHOULDN’T get surgery.
-Ask for a second opinion.
If you need my support, ask for it; that’s why I’m here!
If you’ve been frustrated with back pain, and you want to see if we can help you, comment ‘back’, and I will get the conversation going.